Zoo Cam

We now know that Milo can pull himself up to a standing position in his crib. Which solves the mystery of how he got the baby monitor camera off the wall: a few days ago Jason saw Milo gazing into the camera as he held and pawed it like a toy, a disconcerting vista, to be sure. Then yesterday, I spied him through the bars of the crib (camera now moved to bookshelf) as he pulled up and reached for the pictures hanging over his bed, and jumped up and down like a baby gorilla at the zoo.

Time to lower the crib, I think.

Think and Grow Rich

Coming off the recent success of the lemonade stand, where her cut was a cool $10, Lu has been money hungry. She has regular chores where she can earn $2 per week, with some upside for additional work. Add that to the steady income stream of lost teeth and grandparent windfalls, and she's got a reasonable cash flow. But, like any good entrepreneur, Lu knows that the real money comes from opportunities you make for yourself. Last night, she demanded a quarter from each of us at dinner to view her dance performance. Jason protested, saying he had no change. Lucy pressed us, "Mom or Nini, you have to pay two quarters each because Dad can't pay his." We payed, but there was no performance. And last week, I found her fishing in the dryer for money.

Where is the line between grifter and entrepreneur? Somewhere between rich and jail, I guess.

Unsuccessful Swearing

One morning last week, as we were walking into school, Lu fished around in her pocket for something. "Oh CRAB," she said. "What's wrong?" I said. "I can't find my chapstick." Oh crab, indeed.

Pardon Our Dust

We are in the process of transferring Planet Lu to a new place with a new name. Unfortunately, the new place wasn't qute ready to move into yet, but we'd already cut off the lights at the old joint. So hi. This will be cuter soon (nudge, nudge, Jason).

I Am Here

So, many of you know I've had been thinking about the issue of homelessness here and there for the past couple years, mostly because I've had to explain it to Lucy. Just this Thursday on the way to the airport, we passed a homeless man with a sign that said "Please help." Of course she wanted to know what kind of help he needed, what we should do, why we can't just help him right now.

Why can't we help him right now? Because we don't have cash. Because he might spend it on booze. Because he needs real help: a bed, a home, a community. The answers are so complicated, seeing homeless people is so uncomfortable, that we get overwhelmed. We look away. We pretend not to seem them: all these unfortunate souls, who for whatever complicated reasons have found themselves not only homeless, but also, identity-less. It's too much.

I am so happy to say (and forgive the plug), we can help right now. I have had the privilege of working on a project for Mobile Loaves and Fishes to raise awareness of homelessness and advertise mobile giving: help that homeless person you see right now by getting out your phone and texting a donation to Mobile Loaves and Fishes.

The theme of our campaign is "I Am Here." Imagine what it would be like if all those homeless ghosts we ignore everyday could be seen as human beings. And we could have an immediate way to help.

We're kicking off our campaign with an event where we're putting Danny, a courageous homeless man, and Alan, the fabulous founder of MLF, up onto a billboard for two days. Our goal is to raise the visibility of the cause and raise money to get Danny and his wife Maggie (who has had a stroke and is in a wheelchair) into a home through MLF's Habitat on Wheels program. Yes, it's a little crazy, but Alan's whole mission is to lift up the homeless. We're just doing that in a very dramatic way.

If you're driving down southbound I-35 April 27 or 28, look for our billboard. If you want to help Danny and Maggie get into their new home, send an instant $10 donation by texting "Danny" to 20222. To find out more about the project, visit our website. To keep up with the conversation on Twitter, follow the #iamhere hashtag (Mom, I will explain this later), and by all means, tweet and retweet. Or RSVP to the Facebook event to show your solidarity for the cause.

And to make a difference to another human being who's just saying, "I am here," a simple "hi" is a pretty good start.

Milostone: Teeth

Milo cut his first tooth last week, and another one is on the way.

This makes me strangely sad. There is something so tender about a big, gummy grin. Teeth are aggressive...especially when Mom is still the major food source.

Have I mentioned he is the cutest baby in the history of babies? Just wanted to make sure you knew that.

Lu at Kindergarten Rodeo

Milestone: Teenage Years Begin

The Disney princess shirt Lucy wanted to wear this morning was nowhere to be found. Jason told her she needed to pick another shirt. She refused, huffing, "Well, then I'm leaving." Jason said, "Yes, you are leaving. To go to school." Lucy: "NO, I MEAN I AM LEAVING THIS HOUSE AND NEVER COMING BACK."

Why Choose Violence?

Last night, Lucy was throwing an angry, kicking, screaming fit -- the kind she rarely has anymore, thankfully. The whole thing was so overacted she was practically chewing scenery. I hid in the bedroom trying not to laugh. Jason stood impassive in her room waiting for her to finish. Finally, she opened her arms and surrendered into a hug.

Super Dad Proof Point #42

I called Jason yesterday evening to check on him and the kids. "HORSES DON'T WEAR PURSES!" is how he answered the phone.

Horses don't wear purses? He was arguing with Lu. They were in Hobby Lobby, getting supplies to make her stick horse for the kindergarten rodeo, and she was plying him with other things to buy. Carting two children through Hobby Lobby before dinner is my idea of hell. I bid him goodnight and returned to the lovely wine and weather I was enjoying at the Hotel San Jose with some out-of-town coworkers. I mean, technically I was "working." But what Jason was doing sounded like a lot more work.